The Dog Department: James Thurber on Hounds, Scotties, and Talking Poodles

Gabe Henry (Author)

Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell

2,A brief and humorous 500-year history of the Simplified Spelling Movement from advocates like Ben Franklin, C. S. Lewis, and Mark Twain to texts and Twitter.Why does the G in George sound different from the G in gorge? Why does C begin both case and cease? And why is it funny when a philologist faints, but not polight to laf about it? Anyone who has ever had the misfortune to write in English has, at one time or another, struggled with its spelling.So why do we continue to use it? If our system of writing words is so tragically inconsistent, why haven't we standardized it, phoneticized it, brought it into line? How many brave linguists have ever had the courage to state, in a declaration of phonetic revolt: "Enough is enuf"? The answer: many. In the comic annals of linguistic history, legions of rebel wordsmiths have died on the hill of spelling reform, risking their reputations to bring English into the realm of the rational. This book is about them: Mark Twain, Ben Franklin, Eliza Burnz, C. S. Lewis, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Darwin, and the innumerable others on both sides of the Atlantic who, for a time in their life, became fanatically occupied with writing thru instead ...

Richard Webber

Last of the Summer Wine: The Best Scenes, Jokes and One-Liners

Set and filmed in and around Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, "Last of the Summer Wine" follows the adventures of three quirky pensioners and their equally unusual neighbors. A true British classic that appeals to all generations, it is Great Britain's longest running comedy program. The line-up of the comedy trio has changed numerous times over the years, but the caliber of the family-friendly humor Roy Clarke creates has remained the same, and it's as funny and eccentric now as it was in the first episodes he wrote over 25 years ago. The book includes: The History: an overview of how "Last of the Summer Wine" was born and developed; Gags and Catchphrases: a collection of classic quotes; Did You Know?: snippets of info about the show, cast, etc.; Favorite scenes: the most memorable scenes in full; and much, much more!

Fred Labour, Texas Bix Bender, Too Slim

The Official Sidekick Solution: How to Let Someone Else Hog the Spotlight While You Loosen Your Belt and Take a Nap

Learn the power of low expectations! A hilarious mock self-help book, The Sidekick Solution shows readers the benefits of being second best: eating what you want, letting the ax fall on someone else, and avoiding the heavy lifting while getting co-billing. Chapters with comic book-style illustrations cover such topics as the art of the supportive guffaw; famous sidekicks, from the fairly obscure Jimmy the Hun to Ed McMahon; the delicate nuances of attaching yourself to a new hero when the old one is fired; and more. Texas Bix Bender is the author of eighteen books, including the best-selling Don't Squat With Yer Spurs On series. He has written for television and radio shows, including Hee Haw, the Nashville Network's Tumbleweed Theater, and Riders Radio Theater. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Too Slim is the bassist for the Grammy-winning western music and comedy group Riders In The Sky. He has written for Riders Radio Theatre, Tumbleweed Theater, and various stage and TV specials. He lives near Nashville.